A few weeks ago, I stumbled upon a great article in Family Circle magazine called 42 Ways to Cut Everyday Costs. I love saving money, so I read through the article and took note of a bunch of smart strategies to budget and save money on shopping, health care, travel, and more.
Two of the tips that immediately jumped out at me were related to cell phones and cell phone bills. My husband and I spend a fortune on our cell phone bill each month. We also have a bunch of old cell phone laying around the house collecting dust, so these two tips were super useful to me, and I just wanted to share them with you!
- Recycle old cell phones on yournew.com and get cash back– recycling two cell phones earns you an average of $65. List your model, answer a few quick questions, and enter your email address, mailing address, and choice of payment. The website even provides a shipping label.
- Slash cell phone bills in minutes on cellbills.com, which examines phone usage and then recommends the most cost-effective plan.
Trading Up Downtown Giveaway
Thanks to everyone who entered this week’s peanut butter giveaway! Here’s your winner: 48!
48. Jayhawk Jen
Creamy Jif… but I would LOVE to try Teddie’s!
Congrats, Jen! Please email me at
thaupert@nuval.com with your full name and address to claim your prize!
Doesn’t it seem like the grocery items that you use the most are often the ones that cost the most too? Why does that happen!?! Just imagine how much money you’d save if those pricey items lasted longer!
Here’s how I outsmart those high prices with these simple suggestions from AllYou.com!
- BEEF: Beef can be costly, but that doesn’t mean you need to take burgers off the menu. You can stretch ground beef with fillers such as beans and vegetables. Reserve steak for special occasions.
- PORK: Instead of using pork as a meal’s main event, add bits of ham or bacon to soups, stews and egg dishes to give them oomph. Or put your slow cooker to work on a pork shoulder or another tasty, inexpensive cut.
- FATS & OILS: Use just a little oil in a nonstick pan to brown meat and vegetables, then toss in a splash of broth to keep food from sticking. Buying a mister to spray your cooking oil also can help you cut down on waste.
- DAIRY: Add just a sprinkling of a bolder cheese, like sharp Cheddar, instead of piling on a milder variety. Shred your own to save a lot. Milk is one of the least costly ways to get your dairy servings, so drink up!
How do you make pricey items last longer?
As you probably know, I’m all about saving money, and I’ve written about how I stretch a dollar onTrading Up Downtown as well as my other blog Carrots ‘N’ Cake a number of times in the past:
And here are a few more ways that I get creative with my spending!
Citi Cash Back Card
Ok, let me start off by saying that I am not encouraging anyone to go out and apply for a new credit card. I’m just telling you what works for me. I only spend what I know I can afford and pay off my credit card in full every month.
With that said, my Citi Cash Back Card pays me to use it. For everything I charge on it, I earn cash back. Not points, but cold, hard cash. So, every few months (based on my spending), I get a check in the mail for $50 for just using my credit card. To me, it’s like free money. I’m going to spend the money anyway, it just goes on my credit card first before I pay it off, and my credit card rewards me for it.
Ebates
Ebates is awesome!!! It’s my favorite tool for online shopping. You can find thousands of coupons, promo codes, and discounts on their site, but, better yet, you get cash back savings with online rebates.
Last week, for example, I went on a mini online shopping spree. I bought a couple of books from Barnes & Noble, some Invigorating Night Gel from Sephora, and a pair of Rainbow Flip Flops from J.Crew. Holy shopping bug!
I logged into Ebates and just clicked through to those websites and placed my order as usual, which earned me 4-6% back on my purchases. It wasn’t a ton of money back this time, but in the past, I’ve purchased a computer through TigerDirect and plane tickets through Expedia, which definitely adds us. Again, Ebates pays straight up crash by check or PayPal, so you don’t have to deal with redeeming points and all that jazz.
CVS Green Bag Tag
I don’t know about you, but I shop at CVS a lot. There are two locations super close to my house, so anytime I run out of something, I go there to buy it. I already use the CVS ExtraCare card to save, but the Green Bag Tag is also a great money-saver since I always have a reusable bag with me or I just carry out my purchases. (I hate using plastic bags.)
For every 4th visit to CVS, you get $1 extra buck for using your Green Bag Tag. I shop at CVS a ton and bring a bag with me every time, so it’s easy for me to rack up those dollars. Even more incentive: CVS will donate 5 cents to World Wildlife Fund for every Green Bag Tag sold until the end of this month.
What are your creative ways to spend money?
Developed by an independent panel of nutrition and medical experts, the 